Budanov: Ukraine preparing ‘technological surprise’ for frontline

The head of Ukraine’s presidential administration, Kyrylo Budanov, on Thursday said Ukraine was developing a new “technological surprise” for the battlefield, warning future negotiations would only be possible if Ukraine maintained strong battlefield capabilities.

Budanov noted that the war has entered a stage where simply increasing the number of drones no longer provides a decisive advantage, adding that both sides have reached the limits of existing drone-control technologies.

According to him, the next step for Ukraine is the full integration of artificial intelligence into combat systems, enabling the development of semi-autonomous and autonomous platforms capable of independently identifying targets and executing manoeuvres.

“We must move to autonomous systems that can independently recognise targets and manoeuvre. Ukraine already has developments in this direction and I am confident they will very soon become a surprise for the enemy,” he said.

Budanov emphasised that strength on the battlefield remains a decisive factor for any successful diplomatic outcome, stressing that Ukraine’s negotiating position depends directly on its military resilience.

He also reiterated that Ukraine will not accept territorial concessions or compromises that contradict its national interests.